Opposite side of Problem Solving

I am so moved when I heard my readers’ encouragements to me to continue my writings and ask me when is my next article.?Thanks to you, all my readers pushing me to continue my learnings and reflections in LinkedIn! I didn’t write articles for last month because I was enrolled in ICF ACC coaching training?program and started my coaching practices with what I just learned. The below is some reflections till now as I believe coaching is a skill which need life long time to master. I just started my first small step.?:)

?17 years back, when I was a manufacturing engineer for Semiconductor equipment company, my greatest joy and job satisfaction is the moment that I successfully debugged production problems related to mechanical, electrical, pneumatic, or process issues. I gained my confident in myself and in the problem solving skills I mastered through the debugging experience.?When I embarked in my lean journey 7 years ago, solving the problem and teach the team solve the problem become my daily routines, I am so happy and excited that every time my colleges made their work better and more efficient through problem solving! The problem solving is hardwired into my mind both in my work and in personal life. One of the Lean goals is to develop every employee to become a problem solver through problem solving!

However, this become my biggest obstacle when I learn coaching! The assumption of coaching is based on the client is capable of solving problem by themselves, and they are the master of what they do, while the coach is the master of the coaching process. The more coach know about the problem, the bigger trap for the coach because the coach not only need to hold the urge to provide the solution for the client, but also the coach can’t help the client to find solutions as this coaching will become the problem solving session which is situational and specific by using specific problem solving tools. The problem solving session is transactional not transformative for the client even they learned problem solving skills.

To achieve the transformative changes in client’s mindset, the coach need to reflect what is the client’s thinking process, make powerful inquiries to guide the client to discover his/her new understanding of their goal, and challenging their thinking, so the changes are not situational and temporary but transformative and sustainable.?

This way of coaching seems exactly opposite of problem solving, however, I believe it is different quadrants of situational management, depends on the clients maturity level, knowledge, skill, attitudes, we shall use different methods. Most of time, we know the answer, we know what are right things to do, but we are not clear in our mind, procrastinating, stuck, challenged, not sure how to make a choice/decision, a transformative coaching could help you to move to where you want to be in your learning journey!?

I am looking forward to hearing from you from LinkedIn, it will help me to master my skill and help you in your career as a win-win situation!

#lean #coaching #problemsolving #management #learning #career?